Cyber-attacks don’t happen all at once — they unfold in distinct phases. Understanding each stage can empower organizations to detect, respond, and recover more effectively.
Before the Attack: Recon & Preparation
In this stage, attackers quietly gather intelligence. They scan networks, study employee behaviors, and look for vulnerabilities. This is the time when strong cybersecurity hygiene, employee awareness, and proactive monitoring are critical.
During the Attack: Exploitation & Breach
Here’s where the action happens — attackers exploit a weakness to gain access, move laterally within systems, and often deploy malware or steal data. Real-time detection tools, incident response plans, and containment strategies are key to limiting damage.
After the Attack: Recovery & Reflection
Post-breach, the focus shifts to identifying what happened, restoring operations, and strengthening defenses to prevent a repeat. Digital forensics, system patches, and lessons learned reviews should follow every incident.
At Sureworks, we help organizations build resilience across all three phases — from threat prevention to post-attack recovery.
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